Swiss luxury watch brand TAG Heuer has collaborated with Team Ikuzawa and George Bamford to create a special edition Carrera Chronograph boasting the colours of the iconic Japanese motorsports enterprise.
Team Ikuzawa proudly boasts a rich motor racing legacy founded by Tetsu Ikuzawa, one of the most successful Japanese racing drivers.
This new limited edition Carrera Chronograph brings together the creativity and unmatched expertise of TAG Heuer and Bamford Watch Department, as well as the bold and artistic vision of Tetsu’s daughter Mai, who carries on the proud Ikuzawa legacy.
Tetsu Ikuzawa
Born in 1942, Tetsu entered his first motorcycle race at the age of 15. In 1963 he would switch from two wheels to four wheels, entering the first Japanese Grand Prix for sports cars at Suzuka having signed with Prince Motor Company to race the Skyline Sport Coupe, and in 1964 he was competing again with the team in a race that would launch the Skyline GT racing legend into the dynasty it is today.
In 1967, Tetsu stopped his contract with Nissan and leased a Porsche 906 from the Japanese importer. He defied the odds and beat the domestic entries to win the race, beginning a lifelong relationship between Ikuzawa and Porsche.
In the late 1960s, Tetsu competed in Europe, drawn by its motor racing prominence. He raced in the British Formula Three Championship in 1966. In 1967 Stirling Moss introduced Tetsu to Brands Hatch based Motor Racing Stables, and by 1968, he competed for Frank Williams. He then joined Porsche as a works driver, becoming a pioneering Japanese racer at Le Mans and in Formula 2.
Tetsu later founded i&i Racing Development, now known as Team Ikuzawa. The team’s iconic red and white livery, featuring a red-crowned crane reflects the family’s artist inclination.
Mai Ikuzawa
Alumni of the celebrated Central Saint Martin’s School of Art and Design, Mai Ikuzawa is a prominent figure in the vibrant Japanese design culture and artistic scene, working closely with influential designers and tastemakers, most famously the legend Hiroshi Fujiwara who has also collaborated with TAG Heuer in the past.
Mai embodies the perfect harmony of her father’s racing provenance, her distinctive sense of style, and her Japanese cultural background.
TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Team Ikuzawa by Bamford
This limited edition Carrera Chronograph in the emblematic red and white livery honours Team Ikuzawa and its culture. The dial features a white opaline finish with a striking red 60-second/minute scale, complemented by two white and red contrasting chronograph counters at 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock.
The rhodium-plated, polished indexes and hands are adorned with white Super-LumiNova® and red lacquer. The dial also spotlights “Team Ikuzawa Choice of Racing Enthusiasts” and “SWISS MADE” insignia in red colour.
Inside THE finely brushed and polished 42mm steel case beats the in-house Heuer 02 movement. The beveled, domed sapphire crystal with double anti- reflective treatment ensures optimal legibility and protection. The watch has a water resistance of up to 100 meters.
Its three-row stainless steel bracelet features a folding clasp, adorned with the iconic TAG Heuer shield. For added versatility, the watch comes with an additional white fabric strap, featuring the distinctive “Team Ikuzawa” marking and a Velcro closure.
Each timepiece bears a special steel screw-down sapphire case back, proudly displaying the “XXX/100”, “Team Ikuzawa” logo, and “BAMFORD WATCH DEPT.” imprint.
This timepiece is available in a limited edition of just 100 pieces. The numbers one and 100 have been reserved for Tetsu and Mai Ikuzawa, respectively. This unique timepiece is presented in specially designed, co-branded TAG Heuer x Team Ikuzawa packaging adorned with vivid white and red colours.
As homage to Tetsu’s racing competence, the box also includes a Porsche miniature, encapsulating the spirit of his remarkable achievements with the Porsche 906 at the 1967 Japanese Grand Prix.
Technical details
Model: TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Team Ikuzawa by Bamford, Reference CBN201F.EB0356
Movement
Calibre Heuer 02, Automatic
Functions
Hours, minutes, seconds, date, chronograph
Dial
White opalin dial
White opalin flange with red 60 second / minute scale printed
2 counters:
– 3 o’clock: white “azuré” minute chronograph counter; white lacquered hand with red tip
– 9 o’clock: red “azuré” hour chronograph counter; red lacquered hand with white tip
Rhodium plated facetted, polished applied indexes
Rhodium plated facetted, hour and minute hands with white Super-LumiNova®, and red lacquer
Red lacquered central hand
Red lacquered TAG HEUER applied logo
6 o’clock date
“Team Ikuzawa Choice of Racing Enthusiasts” & “SWISS MADE” printed
Case
42 mm diameter
Steel fine brushed, polished case with polished bezel
Beveled, domed sapphire crystal with double anti-reflective treatment
Steel standard crown at 3 o’clock
Steel fine brushed, polished round push button at 2 o’clock
Steel fine brushed, polished round push button at 4 o’clock
Steel screw-down sapphire caseback, with special white markings “XXX/100”
“Team Ikuzawa” logo & “BAMFORD WATCH DEPT.” printed
Lug-to-lug: 48.6 mm
Thickness: 14.3 mm
Water resistance: 100 meters
Bracelet
Steel 3 rows bracelet
Steel folding clasp with double safety pushbuttons; TAG Heuer shield
Additional white fabric strap with red marking “Team Ikuzawa” printed and Velcro
Availability
September 2023
Suggested retail price
6’250 CHF
